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Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

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Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#351

Post by Mz »

wutbrodo wrote: post #349
Mz wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I am a woman. No need to ask: It is listed in my profile. Also: I did not suggest a man call himself a homemaker. So, I am not sure what the point of your comment is.

> Also: I did not suggest a man call himself a homemaker. So, I am not sure what the point of your comment is. Uh, I'm not sure where this hostility is coming from. Just because someone responds to your comment doesn't mean they're disagreeing with you. I was just adding the context for anyone who sees your comment and interprets it narrowly as thinking that putting 'homemaker' on their resume gap is a useful way to…

I don't see why you are calling that hostility. You could have made the point you made here without implying I was suggesting that some man should go with that framing.

I am quite open about my gender. Lots of people recognize that I am female. Those that don't can easily determine my gender by clicking into my profile. I have zero reason to believe people will interpret my remark to mean that men should call themselves homemakers.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#352

Post by JCharante »

iandanforth wrote: post #137
RBBronson123 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are so right on all your comments. Soon we'll be re-doing the entire site. Perhaps we can talk in several weeks?

I'd add that framing the hiring decision as charity ("giving someone a second chance") could be improved. I'd go for more of a "diamond in the rough" angle. "Find talent everyone else is missing."

That's an incredible tagline

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#353

Post by justin66 »

gertef wrote: post #289
justin66 wrote: post #147

This presents an interesting dilemma here for an ex-con. Most people can eventually get their records expunged after they're out for a while, at which point we as a society demand that they start responding "no" to the questions about having a criminal record during the interview process. It's dishonest but it's how the legal system works. If you're an ex-con who will eventually get his record expunged, is there any…

What's dishonest (and what's demanded?) about honestly stating that one has no criminal record (since the record was deleted)?

The question is sometimes phrased in a way that requires the applicant to lie. "Have you ever been convicted of a crime," etc.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#354

Post by snuxoll »

ryandrake wrote: post #254
jsmthrowaway wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Arizona, too, and you’ll find that’s common in tough-on-crime red states. I can petition to have mine “set aside,” but it sticks. I’m fortunate enough to have a great career in the Valley, but it comes up all the time as the upthread comment pointed out. We are looking into gubernatorial pardon (Arizona has a decent process) but not holding my breath.

This is a pretty common American attitude found in many "non red" states as well: As soon as someone commits a crime--any crime and just once--they become a criminal. It's as if their species permanently changed from human to something else. They're not a human that made a bad decision, they are an "other". Since this new thing they have become is not human, all kinds of inhumane and terrible things can be done to th…

The US criminal justice system focuses on punishment and not reform, "the box" on employment applications makes this patently obvious as does the removal of voting rights for felons. All of this stems from exactly what you mentioned, once convicted you are a criminal, that label follows you and there's little you can do to get rid of it.

The first step to improving any of this is changing deeply held beliefs by our society, and many days it feels like an impossible task.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#355

Post by k_sh »

briandear wrote: post #328
__jal wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unnecessarily bitchy defeatism aside, the answer to your question is the Democratic Party[1]. [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/08/01/cory-...

Republican Rand Paul.. http://reason.com/blog/2016/01/15/rand-paul-says-pot-prohibi... Suggesting the Democrat party wants to decriminalize drugs and drug offenses isn’t entirely accurate. Some people in both parties would like to see that happen. States with vast Democrat majorities haven’t decriminalized drug offenses. Some states have to some degree, but you have to ask, when Democrats has the White House, House a…

FWIW, the Democrats haven't had a supermajority since 2010 (seven years ago, which is a long time in terms of public opinion on drugs), and even then it wasn't a real supermajority[1].

[1]: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-m-granholm/debunking-...

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#356

Post by maerF0x0 »

leesalminen wrote: post #346
maerF0x0 wrote: post #299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how is doing time "repaying a debt to society"? Seems to me incarceration is a proving ground to show you're no longer dangerous, _then_ one can begin to repay whatever injustices occurred?

That's not how it's framed in the US. Incarceration is purposefully made as horrible as possible (rape, beatings, inedible food, solitary confinement) to ensure full debt repayment prior to release. I agree, it's disgusting, but that's the status quo.

Also how is eye for an eye "repayment" . If someone steals my car I dont want them raped-- I want my car back, plus a few bucks to cover the taxis I took while it was gone.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#359

Post by alexashka »

Unbeliever69 wrote: post #339

Bravo. The REAL problem, however, is the quality of jobs available to felons. If this board is filled with nothing more than labor and call-center jobs then, you've only solved part of the problem. The true goal is to connect felons with sympathetic employers in ALL manner of jobs. There is nothing like a felony to destroy a person's sense of self-worth and the system is completely rigged against a felon. This is big…

I don't know that it has anything to do with humanity or forgiveness.

When I want to get myself a puppy - I'd like one that is well behaved, not a puppy that's been returned for behavioural problems.

It's not because I'm less human or hold a grudge against a puppy that happens to bite people or whatever the case may be.

The idea of sympathetic employers is a naive way of looking at life. It'd make my day better if you paypaled me a thousand dollars right now. I know you have the means to do it - let's exercise that sympathy for strangers you'd like others to exhibit for some strange reason :)

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